Despite results of vote among rank and file, Mayor Peduto says he has full confidence in chief

Despite results of vote among rank and file, Mayor Peduto says he has full confidence in chief

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Updated: 5:32 PM EDT Sep 13, 2016

A large majority of the Pittsburgh police voted they have "no confidence" in Chief Cameron McLay in an informal survey.Of the 291 Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1 members who took the one-question survey on the FOP website starting Aug. 20, there were 277 "no" votes, meaning only 14 said they have confidence in McLay.VIDEO: Watch Bob Hazen's reportOn Tuesday, Mayor Bill Peduto said he hasn't seen anything from the union to make him it's time for the chief to go. He also pointed out that two-thirds of police officers chose not to vote in the survey."I know that there's a lot of pushback to some reforms. These reforms are necessary," Peduto said. "There's been pushback when we have disciplined officers, there was certainly pushback when we decided to terminate an officer, but what we're trying to do is create a police force where officers feel proud to wear the uniform and know they're going to be treated fairly."Chief McLay has been a disciplinarian, but he's done it with a fair hand, he hasn't been selective and he's been up front about it. That's a different attitude than we've had before in the bureau."Peduto did acknowledge that morale among police officers is something they need to continue to address. "We're going to work to make their lives better," he said.FOP President Bob Swartzwelder said police officers don't feel McLay has their best interests at heart. He said McLay needs to reevaluate the direction he is taking the police bureau, citing instances of forced overtime, forced response to secondary work details and alleged violations of provisions in the police contract."He is the leader of the police force, so that's his first and foremost responsibility, to lead the police force forward," Swartzwelder said.___McLay released the following statement:"Any time a police chief attempts significant changes to an organization's approach to policing, cultural resistance and pushback are normal and inevitable. I fully expected such resistance when I came here. Facing confidence votes is simply one of the realities faced by major city police chiefs today."No-confidence votes only have such meaning as assigned to them by government officials. I cannot control any of this."The best metaphor is a car in a skid; you don’t look in the direction the car is sliding, you look and steer where you want the car to go."I am focusing on keeping the Police Bureau moving in the same positive direction we have been heading. I am focusing on how to best meet the needs of my members and prepare them to meet the high standards of accountability placed upon them. It is our collective responsibility to serve this community well."I have great confidence in the hard-working officers who serve this community well every single day, and they will always be the focus of my efforts."Get the WTAE Pittsburgh's Action News 4 App

PITTSBURGH —

A large majority of the Pittsburgh police voted they have "no confidence" in Chief Cameron McLay in an informal survey.

Of the 291 Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1 members who took the one-question survey on the FOP website starting Aug. 20, there were 277 "no" votes, meaning only 14 said they have confidence in McLay.

On Tuesday, Mayor Bill Peduto said he hasn't seen anything from the union to make him it's time for the chief to go. He also pointed out that two-thirds of police officers chose not to vote in the survey.

"I know that there's a lot of pushback to some reforms. These reforms are necessary," Peduto said. "There's been pushback when we have disciplined officers, there was certainly pushback when we decided to terminate an officer, but what we're trying to do is create a police force where officers feel proud to wear the uniform and know they're going to be treated fairly.

"Chief McLay has been a disciplinarian, but he's done it with a fair hand, he hasn't been selective and he's been up front about it. That's a different attitude than we've had before in the bureau."

Peduto did acknowledge that morale among police officers is something they need to continue to address. "We're going to work to make their lives better," he said.

FOP President Bob Swartzwelder said police officers don't feel McLay has their best interests at heart. He said McLay needs to reevaluate the direction he is taking the police bureau, citing instances of forced overtime, forced response to secondary work details and alleged violations of provisions in the police contract.

"He is the leader of the police force, so that's his first and foremost responsibility, to lead the police force forward," Swartzwelder said.

___

McLay released the following statement:

"Any time a police chief attempts significant changes to an organization's approach to policing, cultural resistance and pushback are normal and inevitable. I fully expected such resistance when I came here. Facing confidence votes is simply one of the realities faced by major city police chiefs today.

"No-confidence votes only have such meaning as assigned to them by government officials. I cannot control any of this.

"The best metaphor is a car in a skid; you don’t look in the direction the car is sliding, you look and steer where you want the car to go.

"I am focusing on keeping the Police Bureau moving in the same positive direction we have been heading. I am focusing on how to best meet the needs of my members and prepare them to meet the high standards of accountability placed upon them. It is our collective responsibility to serve this community well.

"I have great confidence in the hard-working officers who serve this community well every single day, and they will always be the focus of my efforts."